2016 to 2026 explained: this guide covers what it means, who it applies to, the step-by-step process, documents required, fees, due dates and penalties in India — so you can stay compliant with confidence and avoid costly mistakes.
The Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016 were notified by G.S.R. 395(E) on 4 April 2016. Fifteen amendments followed. The early ones adjusted the import lists in Schedules III, VI and VIII; the later ones added three extended producer responsibility chapters and Schedules, for waste tyres in 2022, used oil in 2023 and scrap of non-ferrous metals in 2025.
These Rules are current as amended up to G.S.R. 636(E) dated 16 July 2026 (Chapter VIII on non-ferrous metal scrap in force from 1 April 2026). Later amendments, CPCB guidelines and notifications should be checked. If you need to know which version of a rule or Schedule applied in a past year, or what applies now, our compliance advisory team can reconstruct it for your business.
Between 2016 and 2026 the Rules were amended fifteen times. The structural changes are G.S.R. 593(E) (waste tyre EPR, Schedule IX, 21 July 2022), G.S.R. 677(E) (used oil EPR, Chapter VII, in force from 1 April 2024), G.S.R. 438(E) (non-ferrous scrap EPR, Chapter VIII, in force from 1 April 2026) and the Jan Vishwas change to penalty in G.S.R. 698(E) (12 November 2024). G.S.R. 636(E) of 16 July 2026 is the latest.
The dated table
| No. | Notification and date | Title | What it changed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | G.S.R. 670(E), 6 July 2016 | Amendment Rules, 2016 | Inserted rule 12(6A): import of solid plastic waste (Basel number B3010 in Schedule VI), excluding post-consumer waste, permitted to units in Special Economic Zones; changed the note to Schedule III on import to actual users or traders |
| 2 | G.S.R. 177(E), 28 February 2017 | Amendment Rules, 2017 | Extended rule 12(6A) to Export Oriented Units; added B3010 solid plastic waste (polymethyl methacrylate) to Schedule III Part B; adjusted Schedule VI |
| 3 | G.S.R. 544(E), 11 June 2018 | Amendment Rules, 2018 | Schedule III Part D, B1110: used electrical and electronic assemblies for testing and research units, and used plant and machinery with residual life of at least 5 years; matching documents in Schedule VIII |
| 4 | G.S.R. 178(E), 1 March 2019 | Amendment Rules, 2019 | New definition 40 "waste collector"; new rule 6(1A) (no authorisation where consent to establish or operate is not required, with hazardous waste given to actual user, waste collector or disposal operator); rule 12(6A) omitted; Schedule III, VI and Form 1 changes |
| 5 | G.S.R. 641(E), 9 October 2020 | Amendment Rules, 2020 | Rule 5(2) clauses (a), (c) and (d) substituted: State duties on workers across generation, handling, recycling, co-processing and disposal |
| 6 | G.S.R. 47(E), 27 January 2021 | Amendment Rules, 2021 | Rule 12(6A) and (6B): import of post-industrial or pre-consumer polyethylene wastes for SEZ and EOU units, with an export requirement for a stated period; textile wastes B3030 and B3035 moved to Schedule III Part D with Schedule VIII documents |
| 7 | G.S.R. 798(E), 12 November 2021 | Second Amendment Rules, 2021 | Rule 3 clauses 3 and 23 ("other wastes"); rule 9(1) and (2) on utilisation of hazardous waste; rule 13(2)(c) trader authorisation in Form 7 and 7A; rule 19(7); Schedules III, VI and VIII and Forms 4 and 7 |
| 8 | G.S.R. 593(E), 21 July 2022 | Amendment Rules, 2022 | Rule 9(4) inserted and Schedule IX added: extended producer responsibility for waste tyre |
| 9 | G.S.R. 900(E), 23 December 2022 | Not described here | The Schedule III list was amended in December 2022 (G.S.R. 900(E)) |
| 10 | G.S.R. 500(E), 12 July 2023 | Amendment Rules, 2023 | Schedule III Part D, B1110: used electrical and electronic assemblies imported for repair or refurbishment and re-exported within one year of import, with a proviso on the unrepairable portion retained in the country; Schedule VIII documents revised |
| 11 | G.S.R. 677(E), 18 September 2023 | Second Amendment Rules, 2023 | Chapter VII (rules 25 to 43): extended producer responsibility for used oil; in force from 1 April 2024 |
| 12 | G.S.R. 177(E), 12 March 2024 | Amendment Rules, 2024 | Definition 22A "deposition centers"; rule 6(1B) and (1C); rule 8(1) proviso on storage by small generators; rule 12(6B) export requirement; rules 29(7) to (9) and 30(5) on the certificate platform, price band and relaxation of timelines; Schedule III and VI entry on polysiloxanes; Schedule IX paragraphs 6(6) to (9), 8A and 9(6); Form 2 condition 15 |
| 13 | G.S.R. 698(E), 12 November 2024 | Second Amendment Rules, 2024 | Rule 40 and Schedule IX paragraph 11 substituted: action for contravention, liability to a penalty in accordance with section 15 of the Act |
| 14 | G.S.R. 438(E), 1 July 2025 | Amendment Rules, 2025 | Chapter VIII (rules 44 to 64) and Schedules X to XIII: extended producer responsibility for scrap of non-ferrous metals; in force from 1 April 2026 |
| 15 | G.S.R. 636(E), 16 July 2026 | Amendment Rules, 2026 | Schedule I, serial 16 (production of caustic soda and chlorine): entry "16.3 Brine sludge" omitted |
The Rules have no official consolidated text. Each notification amends the principal Rules, and the content of the Schedules and forms should be read from the notifications themselves.
The story in four phases
2016 to 2020: import lists and small fixes
Amendments 1 to 5 mostly adjusted what could be imported (plastic waste for SEZ and EOU units, used electronics for research units, textile and glass wastes) and gave definitions and State duties more precision. The waste collector definition and the exemption from authorisation in rule 6(1A) in 2019 are the main structural changes; see rules 6 and 7.
2021 to 2022: utilisation, traders and waste tyre EPR
G.S.R. 798(E) reshaped authorisation for utilisation of hazardous waste and created Form 7A for traders. G.S.R. 593(E) put the first EPR regime into the Rules, for waste tyres; see Schedule IX.
2023 to 2024: used oil and the penalty change
G.S.R. 677(E) added Chapter VII, explained in rules 25 to 30. G.S.R. 177(E) of 2024 added the certificate platform and price band to both Chapter VII and Schedule IX and the relaxation of return timelines. G.S.R. 698(E) replaced the old rule 40 text with the penalty reference to section 15, matching amendments in the other waste rules; see sections 15 to 15B of the EP Act.
2025 and 2026: non-ferrous scrap and a Schedule I entry
G.S.R. 438(E) added Chapter VIII, explained in rules 44 to 50. G.S.R. 636(E) removed the brine sludge entry from Schedule I.
Dates to note
- G.S.R. 593(E) is dated 21 July 2022 in its own text and its changes took effect on publication.
- G.S.R. 677(E) is dated 18 September 2023 and came into force from 1 April 2024.
- G.S.R. 438(E) is dated 1 July 2025 and came into force from 1 April 2026.
- G.S.R. 900(E) is not described beyond the line in the table.
Who is affected
Occupiers, actual users, recyclers, importers and exporters, used oil and waste tyre producers, non-ferrous metal producers and recyclers, and advisers reviewing earlier-year authorisations, returns or import documents.
Example
Ravi Metals Private Limited is asked in an audit why its 2023 import file for used electronic assemblies listed re-export within one year. The compliance team shows the Schedule III Part D B1110 text as substituted by G.S.R. 500(E) of 12 July 2023, and the Schedule VIII documents, and checks which later amendments affect the entry.
Need help reading the HOWM amendment trail?
Authorisations, import files and EPR registrations can turn on which amendment applied on a given date. Our compliance advisory team can help you reconstruct the position year by year.
Key takeaways
- Fifteen amendments between 2016 and 2026, from G.S.R. 670(E) to G.S.R. 636(E).
- Three EPR schemes were added: waste tyres (Schedule IX, 2022), used oil (Chapter VII, in force 1 April 2024) and non-ferrous metal scrap (Chapter VIII, in force 1 April 2026).
- Rule 40 and Schedule IX paragraph 11 now point to section 15 of the Act.
- The December 2022 amendment (G.S.R. 900(E)) changed the Schedule III list.
- Always take dates and Schedule content from the notification itself.
Read next
- Rules 1 to 3: application and definitions
- Rules 25 to 30: EPR for used oil
- Schedule IX: EPR for waste tyres
- Rules 44 to 50: EPR for non-ferrous metal scrap
Disclaimer: Based on the environment rules, guidelines and notifications named above as published in the Gazette of India, read with every amendment notified up to 3 October 2026 that the article names (consolidated reading texts from the CPCB 2021 compilation and the Goa State Pollution Control Board 2025 compilation were checked against the amending notifications), as consulted on 3 October 2026. Later amendments, CPCB guidelines, State Board orders and fees should be checked. This article is general information, not legal advice; check the official text before acting.